Travel down Sumter's newest greenspace .................................... 38 Crosswell Park basketball courts

If you live in or are in the area of Crosswell Park, there is a new free amenity available.

The City of Sumter completed an improvement project in 2022 to bring new basketball courts to the park. This park improvement project was a long time coming for the City of Sumter – since 201718. Mayor David Merchant credited Ward 4 Councilman Steve Corley for the project coming to fruition; he advocated for the installation since day one.

BY SHELBIE GOULDING

As promised in February 2022, the City of Sumter installed three new state-of-the-art basketball courts at Crosswell Park for the public to enjoy.

The park at 130 Yeadon St. needed quality-of-life improvements for the nearby school, church and neighborhood. It was a long-anticipated project that was placed on the table in 2017-18 by the area’s councilman.

Steve Corley, who represents Crosswell in Ward 4, advocated for the installation. However, it didn’t see movement until 2020-21 when it was added to the city’s budget. From there, the city worked with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, drainage, landscaping and more.

Corley said the area needed recreational activities for youth and families in the area. The courts will now give kids a place to play after school, before school, during the day and on weekends.

The project picked up pace after Mayor David Merchant was elected in 2020. He is an advocate for supporting Sumter’s youth and said the project was the first of its scale in the city.

It took a few months to complete construction. Once completed, kids and adults alike could be seen playing games on all three courts throughout the summer. The official opening was held in November 2022.

The city hopes to install more courts like Crosswell’s.

Pets are family, and more people are choosing to include them in their travel plans. While health and safety regulations prevent your pet pals from enjoying some spaces, you will find that Sumter also contains many places where your furry (and not-so-furry) friends are more than welcome!

From parks and campgrounds to a cozy B&B, outdoor dining, a rooftop brewery and two dog parks, there are plenty of opportunities to get your pets in on that family selfie, night out, or evening under the stars.

• 1912 Bed & Breakfast • Candlewood Suites • Hyatt Place • Quality Inn • Rodeway Inn

Leashed pets are welcome at numerous chains, including Petco, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply, Harbor Freight and more. Call for individual store policies.

• Sumter Original Brewery (rooftop) • Sidebar (outdoor seating) • Pelican’s Snowballs (outdoor seating) • Sonic (Broad Street and McCrays Mill Road) • Starbucks (outdoor seating)

• Dillon Park (off-leash dog park) • Sumter Dog Park (off leash) • Gen. Thomas Sumter Memorial Park • Memorial Park • Woods Bay State Park • Palmetto Park • SPCA Bark Park (off leash, membership) • Poinsett State Park • Patriot Park • Mill Creek Park • Cypress Park and Trail • Palmetto Trail

For more pet-friendly fun than you can wag your tail at, visit LoveSumter.com or call the Sumter Convention & Visitors Bureau at (803) 436-2640.